Wilson scientific farming at Lilydale
The Examiner 29 January 1909
LILYDALE
A moralist once remarked that, given its full and unrestricted bent, farming has an upward tendency. Taken literally, that conclusion is verified throughout Lilydale district, for very few farms are located on low-lying situations. The "upward tendency" is conspicuous in the direction of the rugged summit of Mount Arthur and other elevations in the vicinity. Quite a number of the oldest residents have holdings along the base and lower slopes of that giant sentinel.
Indeed, on every ridge entering into the configuration of the country, homesteads stand out in full view, or are nestled among orchards and ornamental trees behind some knoll on the undulating formation.
Mr James Wilson's residence is one of these, for, although on rising ground, one must climb to find it. One does not take in at a single glance all that is being done on this property.
Perhaps the small orchard will first attract attention which, if of limited area, is yet profitable. The young ladies of the home make this department their special care, and are rewarded by being allowed to dispose of the products from season to season. Last year's picking reached about 100 cases, and sold at 3s 6d per bushel on an average. Making fruit cases costs here, say, 5�d, freight 3d on large quantities, and carting a nominal figure. It will be seen, then, the Misses Wilson have made a nice sum by the ready market found in Launceston.
General crops are raised on the farm, including root crops. Hay and peas are fairly good, but maize is a little off, owing to severe frosts. To state a moderate dairy is run by Mr Wilson does not fully explain the full import of the industry as carried on by this farmer. He continues to make the business a study, and finds his 100-acre area ample under his system of culture and food storage.
Mr Wilson has chosen Aryshire stock as the foundation of his milch herd, which he culls from time to time to make room for improved stock. Recently he has procured a splendid Aryshire bull from Mr E. Oliver, of Chudleigh. It is in this way Mr Wilson works from year to year to secure the end in view.
At the present stage of progress, a shed with 14 stalls has been arranged, not simply for milking the cows, but housing them regularly, the owner holding that best results can he obtained by the best means alone. These stalls permit of feeding the milch cows readily and with economy.
With not a few dairymen the question of the disposal of the cream often gives anxiety, butter-making on the farm being at times attended with difficulty, while a market for cream may be located at a considerable distance.
Mr Wilson has adopted the system of pasteurising his cream, and finds ready sale in Launceston ; indeed, a better price is obtained than for butter or ordinary cream. After careful treatment the cream is bottled is glass jars of a convenient size, and having screw tops, as supplied to his order by the Footscray Glass Works, Victoria. The local product is in ready demand, and provides a delicacy for the table othewise denied in many households in the city.
The whole of the necessary work after milking is performed by machinery, a full and suitable plant having been installed in proximity to the barn, and serves several purposes beside. Here is found a 3-horse power horizontal steam engine, the boiler being set in a brick furnace. Several band pulleys are attached to serve as many purposes. A De Laval separator is driven in this way, steam provided for sterilising bottles for cream, and for pasteurising the cream. A vat is being built for cleansing bottles, both new and returns, and will be worked by steam power, the brush employed having as high as 400 revolutions per minute. This appliance will greatly reduce labor in that direction. Water is supplied by pumping gear attached to the said engine, but the source being 88 yards away, the pump is worked by means of a wire rope, the attachment of the engine giving the first, or lifting, stroke, and a weight at the distant point the second, or down, stroke. An ample supply is thus maintained.
Within the machine shed is also found a saw bench for cutting firewood for the house, while another belt drives a chaffcutter fixed in the second floor of the barn, or may be employed in slicing mangolds for stock feeding.
Cattle feeding is a special feature of Mr Wilson's dairying system, and to make full provision he has constructed a well built silo at the rear of the barn. This silo is built after the plan adopted by the Victorian Agricultural Department but has been greatly strengthened by the insertion of horizontal stays at regular intervals between the upright joists, these ensuring a more even resistance against the internal pressure resulting from the weighted ensilage. The measurements of the silo � 20ft 6in high, and 12ft 10in diameter � give a capacity of 50 tons. A Bentall chaff cutter is employed in preparing the material (peas, vines, and oats) for ensilage making. This plan is preferable to the use of long fibre vegetation, both as relates to packing in the silo and thorough conversion into palatable ensilage.
An even pressure is secured by weighting the raw material in the silo with three tons of white gravel. By employing this particular gravel there is no loss of weight by evaporation. Red soil was first tried, but as an experiment to give place to a more staple substance. By building a platform out from the top margin of the silo, the gravel can be easily removed and placed in position for a second filling. Labor in lifting from the ground is reduced to one operation by this plan. Mr Wilson remarks the idea of lifting earth for weighting appears to present so great a difficulty that ensilage making is considered a very troublesome process. He further states three men can, in a couple of hours, raise all the gravel required for the purpose.
Pig raising with Mr Wilson is reduced to a science almost. First, the convenience for feeding and housing might be particularised. The styes are well built, having solid cemented floors, drains, and iron troughs for holding regular meals. These factors ensure cleanliness, more especially as plenty of space is provided within each enclosure. The front of each stye has a shutter window, moving on pivots, that permit of the same being swung open or closed at pleasure, according to the state of the weather.
But this arrangement for feeding (Mr Wilson's own contrivance) commends itself for utility and cleanliness. It consists of a door the full width of the feeding trough, and is swung on side pivots, the boarding being placed upright and reaching the level of the top rail. This plan acts as a stop, and prevents the pigs pushing the door outward. A lever bar opens the door inward, and falling on the inside rim of the trough, exposes the same fully, and allows of the food being poured in, the squeakers having to wait the pleasure of the attendant. Each door may be opened and the troughs filled in a cleanly manner, when a touch of the lever bar releases the door, and pigium curlium talium is allowed to partake of his repast.
Inside these shutter doors are placed a kind of splash board, that just covers the rim of the trough, and prevents sloppy food par ticles falling out, to be trodden upon by the attendant. An inspection of these styes would repay pig raisers, for the very best results are secured with little outlay, no more timber being required in their construction than in making an ordinary pig house.
Evidently Mr Wilson has a turn for me chanical invention. Having remarked that Mr Wilson has reduced pig raising almost to a scientific basis, particulars of his system are necessary in support.
Contrary to the opinion of some one meets with, Mr Wilson holds to a cross with Berkshire and Tamworth stocks. The objection raised is that this cross are great feeders, and to a degree out of proportion to quick market value. This objection only holds good where the second strain has the predominance. To quote Mr Wilson : I have verified over and over that Berkshire and Tamworth is an excellent strain up to a certain point. Tamworth must not go beyond one-half, and any proportion below will be a big improve ment. The question of feeding is of first importance with this cross, and the addition of milk is a large and important factor in producing frame. Mr Wilson's point is to promote growth and condition at one and the same time, and that he is successful is clearly shown in his ability to place on the market, out of a young even litter, weights up to 120lb in from 19 to 20 weeks.
This is an achievement that refutes the idea of the Berkshire and Tamworth cross being unsuitable for market purposes. The value of these stocks is recognised in Victoria to a much greater degree than in Tasmania. Just a peep into one stye under Mr Wilson's care would delight many a pig fancier, for a more healthy and well proportioned litter could scarcely he desired. And these are the making of excellent full-grown swine, and should weigh well.
Besides rearing young pigs on his own farm, Mr Wilson keeps pure-bred stock for the convenience of neighbors, and then buys the brood for fattening under his own system. An object lesson is provided in Mr Wilson's scheme that might well be carefully studied.
Middlefield, the property of Mr John Wilson, joins that of his brother James (Maxwelton Brae), and extends to the old homestead, formerly owned by his father, the late Mr W. Wilson, a pioneer of 43 years ago. Middlefield comprises 45 acres, but another property of 150 acres is held at Lebrina, and employed as a sheep run at the present time. Crops are very good on Mr John's farm, while a dairy of nine cows is in full operation.
A small orchard, about two acres, is worked but the present season is unfavorable to the production of fruit in this particular area. Heavy frost in the early part destroyed the bloom, while recent strong gales somewhat denuded the trees of precious fruit.
Mrs Wilson devotes attention to poultry raising, etc., and makes about 90s per week from the sale of eggs, even at the late ruling prices. This goes to show what can be done where there is a mind to follow up poultry raising and egg production. In feeding her fowls, bran and potatoes enter largely into their regular meals, with rabbit flesh as a change diet. A farm yard provides plenty of picking for stray scratchers, and the egg gathering is thereby assisted. Mr Archie Wilson being a nonresident of Ihe district, New South Wales being his present home, little is being done on his 100-acre block, sheep being the chief line given any attention.
These uplands, however, form a portion of the cleared and cultivated areas of Lilydale, and add to the wealt of the municipality. Flat land is limited in extent, while rising country prevails. Close to the township the country rises, and properties are owned by the Sulzbergers and others, who give attention to general cropping from season to season.
LILYDALE. (1909, January 29). Daily Telegraph (Launceston, Tas. : 1883 - 1928), p. 3. Retrieved May 4, 2015, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151940461
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